Short course pools at the gym can be dizzying to swim. Lengths are quickly swum and counting how many you have finished seems impossible. Your concentration should be on your stroke and the tunes on your iPod.

The FINIS Swimsense is your in-pool work out companion. It’s a watch with greater functionality. It collects data from your workout, so you can track and analyze your achievements. The Swimsense captures pace times, distance, stroke count, stroke rate, distance-per-stroke and calories burned for butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.

Accelerometer and magnetometer technology and an algorithm only Isaac Neewton would understand to monitor your swim. The Swimsense keeps it simple compared to comparable on-land watches equipped with accelerometer technology. After taking five minutes to read the instructions, the Swimsense can be configured quickly and your swim workout can start.

The use of accelerometer may not be new, because it’s been used in a variety of applications such as a car’s airbag to the Blackberry in your pocket. Some applications of the technology are faulty and does not work as manufacturers hope. No need to worry with the FINIS Swimsense. It adapts to the stroke to measure distance swum accurately.

Another dominant feature is the online training log. The Swimsense connects to a small dock which connects to your PC with a USB to upload the data it collects and recharge the unit. Fourteen workouts can be stored on the watch.

FINIS requires a download of their free proprietary software package, Swimsense Bridge. Running on the Adobe Air platform, the software stores your workouts and allows you to see the progress (or lack of) in your pool workouts.

images/FINISThe FINIS Swimsense is a training tool which can inspire you to dip your toes in the pool more often. During the colder winter days, all motivation is welcomed to keep in shape. A Swimsense user will be impressed with its intuitive features, analyzing workout data on your PC and the accuracy in data collection. (MSRP $199.99)